Pre Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (Oral PrEP)

More than two million people acquire HIV infection globally every year. In Kenya, 71,034 people aged above 15 years and 6,613 aged 0-14 years got infected with HIV in 2015. This means that these 77, 648 Kenyans would require lifelong antiretroviral treatment to keep them alive and prevent further transmission of HIV.

In September 2015, the WHO issued a strong recommendation for Pre-­exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommending use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent acquisition of HIV infection. Subsequently, in July 2016, The Ministry of Health – Kenya, released HIV treatment and prevention guidelines recommending provision of immediate initiation of ART and PrEP use among the uninfected partners at high risk of HIV acquisition. These interventions will contribute to achievement of the objectives laid out in the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework 2014/15-2018/19 and the HIV Prevention Revolution Road Map to reduce new HIV infections.

The Vision, Goal and Mission of PrEP Implementation in Kenya

Pre Exposure Prophylaxis(PrEP) is a new prevention method for HIV negative people that has been introduced in Kenya. We aim to prevent HIV infections to all people at substantial ongoing risk of HIV and improve their quality of life.

The Focus Areas and Objectives of the PrEP program

Policies however have the potential to change the HIV landscape by including Treatment as prevention and introducing PrEP. In September 2015, the WHO issued a strong recommendation for Pre-­exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommending use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent acquisition of HIV infection. Subsequently, in July 2016, The Ministry of Health – Kenya, released HIV treatment and prevention guidelines recommending provision of immediate initiation of ART and PrEP use among the uninfected partners at high risk of HIV acquisition. These interventions will contribute to achievement of the objectives laid out in the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework and the HIV Prevention Revolution Road Map to reduce new HIV infections.

PrEP Journey in Kenya

There has been various demonstration projects of administering oral PrEP to serodiscordant couples, heterosexual women and populations at high risk of being infected with HIV

PrEP is incorporated into the Kenyan HIV Prevention Revolution Roadmap and is also identified as an evidence-based intervention in the most recent Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework (KASF). PrEP is also included in the Guidelines on use of ARV drugs for treating and preventing HIV infections in Kenya – 2016 edition

National PrEP roll out

The government will roll out the use of PrEP across the country making it accessible to Kenyans who require it to prevent themselves from the risk of acquiring HIV